Chapter 20: She has delusions!

Fang Wei bought a cup of milk tea and took a trip to the restroom. By the time he came back, he saw Qi Qian Cao chatting with the Miss Salesgirl at the clothing store.

She really was a popular child.

Honestly, who could resist falling for a girl who looked like she walked straight out of a comic?

If he hadn’t witnessed her twisted, abnormal side, Fang Wei might have appreciated her, too.

He didn’t get close.

Instead, he stood at a distance, listening to Qi Qian Cao and the Miss Salesgirl laughing together.

“By the way, how did you and your boyfriend meet?”

The soul of gossip in girls always ignites at unexpected moments.

Qi Qian Cao took a small sip of milk tea, her baby-face tinted with a bashful pink.

“I guess… it was love at first sight…”

She twisted her slim waist, “He was the one who chased me. Back then, I was so stubborn. Later, I realized how outstanding Mr. Boyfriend was. Even after dating for so long, he still sends me lots of messages every night.”

“That’s so nice. I feel like so many couples nowadays get tired of each other after a short time.”

The Miss Salesgirl blinked enviously.

She glanced at her own reflection in the nearby glass.

Nuwa’s… look at that female college student, delicate and lively, then look at me—like I was molded out of mud!

[Corruption Value +1]

“It’s okay, sister. You’ll definitely find true love in the future too.”

Qi Qian Cao giggled, sweet as honey. Even the Miss Salesgirl, who was also a woman, felt her heart melt.

“Oh, Mr. Boyfriend is back~”

Unaware that she had accidentally bent the Miss Salesgirl’s heart, Qi Qian Cao noticed Fang Wei standing behind her.

She leaped onto him, her little nose rubbing against Fang Wei’s chin.

The commotion seemed a bit much, and as several people cast resentful glances their way, Fang Wei had no choice but to hook Qi Qian Cao’s knees and carry her to a more secluded spot.

This woman had only met him three days ago, and she was already so clingy it was like she’d switched personalities. He didn’t dare imagine what would happen if they spent a few more days together.

He set Qi Qian Cao down.

The girl gazed at him, eyes full of longing.

She stroked Fang Wei’s fingers, describing just how much she’d missed him in the ten-odd minutes they’d been apart.

Gradually, the girl fell silent, her gentle eyes resting on Fang Wei’s face.

She seemed to finally calm down.

Fang Wei met those soft, heartbreaking eyes, deciding to try asking the questions he’d been hiding in his heart.

“Um… Magic Girl Miss.”

“Mm-mm… What is it, Mr. Boyfriend?”

“Do you still remember what you said yourself a couple of days ago when we were together?”

Qi Qian Cao tilted her little head, thinking, then suddenly laughed for no reason.

“Of course I remember. Mr. Boyfriend said he liked me and wanted to chase me. At the time, I kept coming up with all sorts of excuses. Actually, I was just too shy and happy.”

Fang Wei: ???

Another nonexistent memory added to the list.

No way, I didn’t even hit the skip button?

Who’s been fast-forwarding my life?!

He stared into Qi Qian Cao’s clear eyes.

The little girl blinked, thinking he was about to do something else, so she obediently leaned her face closer.

Fang Wei had no choice but to turn his head away.

He could vaguely guess what was going on with Qi Qian Cao.

“But… we’ve only known each other for three days and dated for a day and a half… and now you’re like this…”

“Haven’t we secretly liked each other for a long time already?”

“?”

Fang Wei’s expression was like a cow chewing grass, suddenly shocked.

Qi Qian Cao spoke with utter seriousness, naturally recounting their “love story”—sharing things that never even happened.

She even brought up the messages Fang Wei had sent last night, trying to prove her point.

Fang Wei finally understood why Qi Qian Cao had guided him to send those messages.

No doubt, this woman had a severe delusional disorder, with the typical symptoms of collecting, piecing together, and fabricating so-called “evidence”.

But this time, Fang Wei wasn’t in the mood to play house with her.

He simply opened his phone and tapped on the photo Qi Qian Cao had sent him.

“Magic Girl Miss, look closely. We only added each other as friends yesterday. I sent you messages because your photo scared me.”

He was completely straightforward, not hiding anything.

Qi Qian Cao was visibly stunned.

Then, a strange, twisted smile appeared on her face.

She gripped Fang Wei’s sleeve, eyes full of affection.

“Mr. Boyfriend is worried about me again, isn’t he? Don’t worry, I’m not on any medication. I just wanted to make you pay more attention to me with that photo, to love me a little more. When you messaged me, I was so touched…”

She skipped over the previous topic and started rambling about unrelated things again.

Fang Wei suddenly felt a sense of helplessness.

He tried to press the earlier question further.

But as soon as he spoke, Qi Qian Cao’s gaze darkened.

That faintly trembling magic was like a volcano about to erupt.

“Stop testing me, okay? I’ll be sad. Because inside that photo… is you!”

She took off her heavy black-rimmed glasses, gripping them tightly in her hand.

The sound of teeth cracking was accompanied by blood seeping from the girl’s fingers.

She really looked grievously wronged.

Fang Wei stared in disbelief.

Qi Qian Cao seemed to be using this form of self-harm to calm herself.

Her breathing grew more erratic, the sorrow of a girl abandoned by a scumbag nearly overflowing.

After a brief hesitation, Fang Wei still reached out, holding her pale little hand.

She froze, then instantly changed expressions—smiling through her tears.

The smile was still beautiful, but now it seemed chilling.

—

He sent Qi Qian Cao off.

This essentially probing date ended in uncertainty.

Exhausted, Fang Wei made his way to the milk tea shop.

A tall figure wearing a mask was silently watching him.

Three empty milk tea cups sat on Si Chen’s table.

His boss actually liked drinking girly stuff like this.

“You made a little girl cry. Careful, the Justice Person will beat you up.”

Ever since Qi Qian Cao started looking pitiful, busybodies had shown hostility toward Fang Wei.

Still, the couple inexplicably reconciled, so the Hero Saves Beauty story could only remain in their hearts.

“Stop with the sarcasm, or I’ll elbow you.”

Si Chen shoved his half-finished milk tea at Fang Wei, who disdainfully pushed it back.

Lao Da, even if your lips are redder than a woman’s, I’m not sharing an indirect kiss with you.

Heh, cunning Little Nan Liang.

“So what happened?”

“What else? Didn’t you hear her? In her mind, I’m the one who chased her. I swear I didn’t use the [Hypnosis App]. How did she hypnotize herself first?”

After everything today, even Si Chen could feel there was something off about Qi Qian Cao.

If he hadn’t often… “observed” Fang Wei, he might have thought these two were in the passionate phase of a relationship.

He asked curiously, “From your observation, what’s her situation?”

“It’s obvious—she can’t distinguish between reality and fantasy.”

Fang Wei pulled out his phone and typed a line.

De Clerambault Syndrome, also known as erotomanic delusional disorder.

In short, it’s the delusion of being loved without any real basis—firmly believing someone is in love with you, acting to prove the delusion’s authenticity.

Can’t understand?

Fang Wei offered a simpler explanation:

“I fantasize that someone can love me, and I strive for it.”

It might sound romantic, but for the person being fantasized about, it’s a ticking bomb invading their life.

When did it start?

Fang Wei searched his memory.

The scene froze on the day he officially met Qi Qian Cao.

Later, when he used the Time Camera, he discovered Qi Qian Cao’s happiest moment was being “choked”.

He had assumed Qi Qian Cao was a masochist.

Looking back, his thinking was completely off.

Qi Qian Cao wasn’t just a masochist—she’d said no one had ever treated her like that.

Only Fang Wei was special…

Rationalization, romanticization, maintaining the integrity of her delusion—this was the disease’s progression.

Then she raised her spear and charged straight at Fang Wei!

Poor Fang Wei had wanted to get close to the Magic Girl too, falling right into the trap.

Hi hi hi!

Now he was doomed.

After explaining the disorder, Fang Wei checked the Strategy Guide Rate for this fast-food romance.

His own portion: 14.89%.

Qi Qian Cao’s self-directed drama + delusion + self-hypnosis: 85%.

Congratulations to the [Hypnosis App]system for achieving a remarkable 0.11% in the Strategy Guide Rate—truly a despairing result!

Magic Girl?

Actually a thirst trap.

Fang Wei never expected the words he’d said to Xia Yuanhua a few days ago to come back like a boomerang.

This girl fantasized about someone loving her.

“Lao Da, maybe we should give up on this one. I feel like just pursuing Xia Yuanhua is enough.”

Fang Wei raised a French Military Salute to show his fear of Magic Girl.

Maybe on the internet, being a Stereotypical Mine Girl who wields a Bite Flower Knife and drinks Monster Claw is trendy, but Qi Qian Cao actually had mental problems.

So what she needed was a Mental Illness Doctor.

And given the situation, there was no telling when Qi Qian Cao might suddenly snap, demanding why Fang Wei didn’t love her—then stab him to death in a frenzy.

However, Si Chen looked quite entertained, standing up and handing over the piles of shopping bags.

“Of course you can quit, ‘Mr. Boyfriend’—as long as you can escape right now.”